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Itching, scratching and hair loss in cats

Many people think that a cat scratching itself is a
perfectly natural thing and of course to a limited extent, it is. Most people
are not infested with anything unpleasant, and yet everyone gets an itch every
now and again and a cat is just the same. The point comes when the cat is
scratching to excess and then it must be treated, because it can cause some
quite serious skin conditions and whenever there is broken skin on an animal,
there is always a chance that an opportunistic secondary infection can get in
and cause even more trouble. The reasons for a cat scratching excessively,
sometimes to the point of causing its fur to fall out should be thoroughly
investigated; the cure is often quite simple.

Fleas!

Cats get fleas, and that is just how it is. Fleas can lie
dormant for a long while and can get by biting other species for a while, so
when a cat goes by or when they are imported into the house on someoneís
clothing, they will immediately make for the nearest cat. The best way to make
sure that your cat does not get fleas is to keep them protected with a
long-lasting anti-flea prophylactic medication, which can be pills or a Ďspot
oní type and also to vacuum thoroughly wherever your cat like to sleep. Grooming
the cat with a flea-comb is also a good idea, over a bowl of water if possible
so that the fleas donít just jump off and go and lurk near the skirting board
and wait for better times. Some people find that a flea trap, which is
essentially a lamp and a sticky pad to catch the fleas, are a good idea to keep
in little used corners of the house. These catch the fleas which have decided to
play a long game and lie in wait. Although not a one hundred percent solution,
they are chemical free and you will probably be horrified at the number of fleas
you can catch in even a very clean home.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

This is often shortened to FAD or is known as flea bite
sensitivity and is basically a severe local reaction to the bite of the flea.
Whereas all flea bites will itch for a while because the flea injects a tiny
dose of anticoagulant when it bites, a cat with FAD will scratch, bite and worry
at the site until it can make the skin very sort and the hair to fall out. This
is often at the base of the tail and so is quite easy to spot, as the cat cannot
stop scratching, even when you try to distract it. Many owners assume that their
cat cannot have an allergy to flea bites because they take measures to keep them
flea free but the fact is that an allergy can be kicked off by a single bite, if
the cat is sensitive.

It is important to treat the allergy and the site of the
damage, as there is a good chance that the cat may get an infection in the
broken skin otherwise. If this is really making your cat miserable, then it is
possible for it to have a course of desensitizing injections. These take time to
work but are effective because they retrain the immune system to not over react
to flea bites.

Allergies

Allergies can affect cats very badly and can be to all
kinds of allergens. The flea allergy is well known, but some cats react badly to
stings and if they scratch them not only can they become very sore and infected,
but the hair may fall out as well. The itching from an allergic reaction is so
extreme that the cat will often bite itself quite severely trying to deal with
it and over-grooming around the area can leave it looking quite bald. The stress
of constant itching can also mean that the cat will not eat properly and can
become quite unwell generally. It is not always easy to work out what the cat is
allergic to, so a bit of detective work is sometimes necessary, noting when the
scratching is worse. This way you can work out if the allergen is in the house
or outside, whether it is contact or breathed in, and so on. This can take a
while, but during the process, it is possible to treat the cat with
antihistamine and steroids to try and break the itch scratch cycle and give the
skin time to recover.

Mites, mange and other parasites

Cats have a dense coat, consisting of long guard hairs and
a much shorter, fluffier undercoat which is prime living conditions for all
kinds of parasite. Mites can multiply to enormous numbers in a very short time
and migrate to hidden areas when disturbed which makes them hard to spot.
Sometimes they live in a catís ears, which results in head shaking and
scratching the ear. This can break the delicate pinna of the ear, causing a
blood blister to develop. When this collapses, the ear is no longer pricked, but
is often wrinkled and lying over the ear opening, which means that mites can
multiply even more in the warm, damp cavity. A careful owner will check their
cat frequently to make sure that they have no parasitic infestation, as they can
very quickly make the animal unwell due to stress or anaemia.

Watch your cat

It is no hardship to bond with your cat, and having a cat
sleeping on your lap is a great pleasure to any owner. Take the opportunity to
make sure that you check it over for bald spots, damp patches which will point
to over grooming or weeping skin, sensitive patches, flea droppings, ticks,
mites and the rest. A cat is generally a clean and well-maintained animal,
without staring fur or dirty patches and most stay like that throughout their
life. A scratching cat is not a happy cat, but whatever the reason for the itch,
it is generally quite easy to put right.

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